£19.95

KKV 444V, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, 1980 RAC Rally Winner, T-Shirt

KKV 444V is the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus that Henri Toivonen & Paul White used to win the 1980 Lombard RAC Rally. This was a truly historic victory and marked the end of 8 years of Ford Escort domination. Henri, from Finland, was only 24 years old and at the time was the youngest person ever to win a world championship event. Henri had beaten stiff opposition from the likes of Bjorn Waldegard, Ari Vatanen and Englishman Tony Pond. He even beat his hero and countryman Hannu Mikkola who was trying for a hat trick of victories. A successful career followed with drives for Opel, Porsche, and Lancia in the glory days of the very spectacular and frighteningly quick Group B supercars. Sadly Toivonen's promising career was cut short by a tragic accident. In 1986 whilst leading the Tour de Course rally his Group B Lancia Delta S4 left the road and plunged down a ravine landing on its roof, an explosion and fierce fire followed and both he and Co Driver Sergio Cresto were killed. The accident was a contributing factor in the FIA decision to ban the Group B cars. The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was the last 2 wheel drive car to win the RAC Rally with victory in 1981 going to Audi with the four wheel drive Quattro.

Our design takes classic elements from the great car brought together to make a truly unique T-shirt. Slightly quirky, this will appeal to Sunbeam fans and rally enthusiasts alike, whilst leaving others simply wondering!